ROBIN ESROCK
MALDIVES— From Thursday’s Globe and Mail

A travel writer’s honeymoon is not something to be taken lightly. The right destination has to be exotic yet decadent, adventurous yet romantic. Months are ticking down to my wedding this summer, and as I search for the ultimate honeymoon locale, my mind keeps returning to the Soneva Gili resort in the Maldives.

A nation of coral islands located south of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives represents pure self-indulgent escape. You see it on every paradise calendar: white sand, blue water, total privacy.

Like most tourists, I quickly departed the overcrowded island capital of Malé for the island resorts. While alcohol is illegal in Malé (my bottle of duty-free rum was even confiscated at the airport), the resorts function as their own kingdoms, accessible by boat or floatplane. On the island of Lankanfushi, just 20 minutes by speedboat from the capital, Soneva Gili has its own wine cellar, cures its own hams and serves cocktails and beer at the bar. The resort even sets its clock an hour later than the rest of the country, giving its guests more time in the day, literally running in its own time zone.

Forty-five villas built over the water branch off from the island, and are designed to be friendly on the environment and the eye. Ranging from 2,250 square feet to an incredible 15,000 square feet in the five-building “private reserve” area, the villas offer decks, large bathrooms, Bose surround-sound systems, Wi-Fi and a glass-walled shower accessible via an enclosed sea pool. Upstairs, the patio has a double bed, should you wish to sleep directly under the stars.

The attention to detail in each villa is staggering, with simple yet stylish decor that comes from spending plenty of time, thought and dollars. They call it “intelligent luxury.” Every window and deck looks onto the crystal sea, in which tropical fish, stingrays and harmless, small reef sharks swim right beneath your feet. The villas, like the resort itself, are designed for couples to enjoy their privacy, pampering and relaxation. I met honeymooners from the United States, Spain, Russia, France and Japan doing exactly that.

Soneva Gili belongs to the Six Senses chain of luxury resorts and spas, well known for an elite clientele including business and showbiz celebrities. Villas start at $1,000 a night, with meals and activities extra, and I got the feeling if I had to ask how much things cost, I really didn’t want to know.

On arrival, guests are greeted with a canvas bag for their shoes, labelled “No News, No Shoes.” Just in case I might step on anything sharp, the beaches and boardwalks are swept every day. As for the rest of the world, well, it may as well have not existed.

Each villa has its own bikes to pedal around the resort, along three main wooden jetties holding each villa like a pea in a pod. Lit up at night, the jetties look like runways, sparkling under the canvas of stars. Lavish buffets or à la carte meals are served on the beach, at the over-water bar, or brought to the villa for a romantic candlelight dinner. The cellar, built around a large piece of wood that washed up on the beach, stocks 500 wines, and the resort grows its own organic vegetables. Staff from around the world serve every whim, organizing sunset cruises, reef dives or whatever guests ask of them.

Of course, every honeymoon needs a spa. Specifically one that accommodates couples, since the missus might not be amenable to the beautiful blond Swedish masseuse rubbing me down. International therapists work out of the Six Senses Spa, offering various massages, facials, body wraps, yoga classes and Ayurvedic treatments. The couples room has thoughtful glass-bottom windows, to admire the marine life during the massage.

The water sports, diving, snorkelling, kayaking and windsurfing are all excellent and I quickly realized that if my marriage could survive figuring out how to sail a catamaran, we’d be in calm waters. I found a well-stocked book and movie library, and a gym too, which I avoided. Somehow, even though the resort was full, the island felt sparse and empty. Those craving absolute privacy, like the occasional Russian oligarch, can book one of the seven Crusoe Residences, accessible only by private pontoon and featuring a floating sundeck.

Rising sea levels, however, are threatening the very existence of the Maldives, which is just 2.3 metres at its highest point. With its 1,192 islands spread out over 90,000 square kilometres, many will soon be completely submerged. It makes the Maldives that much more precious and exotic, like a gem slowly slipping away into the sea. The ocean villas at the Soneva Gili await honeymooners like a dream, albeit an expensive one far beyond the budget of this travel writer. It may have been a plum assignment to shoot a TV show, but I envied the couples on my solo assignment. My search for the ultimate honeymoon destination continues.

Source: theglobeandmail.com

© 2011, admin. All rights reserved.

Maldives tourism officials said they had not received any details about Lithuania-based multi-purpose company’s Olialia plans to install a resort staffed only by blondes in the Maldives, and had not issued any permits for such purpose.

Olialia (pronounced Oh-la-LA) has created a business empire in Lithuania, using its troupe of glitzy models with platinum hair to market just about anything from potato chips to pop music. There’s Olialia pizza and Olialia cola, even Olialia computers.

With the Maldives resort – and plans for an airline linking it to the Baltic republic – Olialia is taking its blond ambition to a new level, writes AP/LETA.

“Blond is light. It attracts people like sunshine,” brand manager Lauryna Anuseviciute, a 24-year-old former model, explained at the Olialia office in downtown Vilnius.

Simon Hawkins, director of the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation, noted that: “We welcome any serious innovations and investment for discussions so long as it is backed by serious finance with a robust and realistic business plan.”

However, he did not appear to see the blond requirement as a major hurdle for employees from the Maldives, saying “perhaps they could work behind the scenes, or die their hair?”

Anuseviciute commented on the hair color requirements for the stuff the following way: “Staff who are not blond will wear a blond wig to make everyone look similar.” The wig will be considered part of their uniform.

Approximately 65% of the staff will be women, she said.

The resort plans are still in their infancy – the tentative launch date is 2015 – but Anuseviciute insisted Olialia already has secured financing.

Still, it will not miss a good chance to promote the project, like at next month’s international real estate fair in Cannes, France. Olialia plans to arrive in style, with 130 blondes flying in from Lithuania on a chartered plane. Back home, the small women’s rights movement is cringing in disgust. Not only is the “blond island” idea demeaning to women, but borderline racist, said Margarita Jankauskaite, director of the Lithuanian Center for Equality Advancement.

“I am ashamed that this initiative came from my country. This only sends a message to the world that Lithuania is a country of cheap beer and cheap blond women,” Jankauskaite said.

Anuseviciute dismissed such concerns. “It is not discrimination,” she said. “For example, if a ballet is casting for a male-only dance performance, is it discrimination against women when they only hire men?

“The same with our resort – everyone will be welcome to work but will have to wear the uniform,” Anuseviciute said.

Source: baltic-course.com

© 2011, admin. All rights reserved.

February 2010 has brought tourist arrivals to a record high as tourist arrival mark hit 77,063 tourists according to the statistics released by the Tourism ministry.
The February figures show a 14 percent increase from the numbers in January 2010 and a big 32 percent increase compared to February 2009; which saw just over 58,500 tourist arrivals.

The ministry’s statistics also shows that China had emerged, for the first time, as the biggest market for Maldives tourism in February, beating the European markets.
The Chinese New Year holiday period may have been a factor, but also China’s rapidly growing middle class has been credited with having a substantial impact on the international travel industry. Italy came in second, with 12,000 tourists, followed by the UK with just over 10,400 tourists.

Traditionally, the United Kingdom and Italy had always claimed the top two markets but with 13,345 Chinese tourists arriving in Maldives during February, China now holds the record for the highest number of tourist arrivals in Maldives during a one-month period. China is also the second biggest contributor to Maldives tourism so far this year, emerging with a 13 percent share.

According to the Tourism Ministry, the occupancy rate for the 20,312 beds in 91 resorts of the Maldives was just over 95 percent, while the average occupancy rate was a bit lower at almost 89 percent. Tourists spent on average 7.4 days in the Maldives, the Ministry added.

Download of the past year statistics are available here.

© 2010 – 2011, Editor. All rights reserved.

The way the world economy is trending the tourists from world over will have a good treat to travel to the Maldives in 2010. There is an overall increase in supply of flight seats and hotel beds in the Maldives. This combined with Global financial crisis, the market has changed from sellers’ to buyers’ thereby increasing the bargaining power of buyers pulling down the ADR (average daily rate) for the traveller advantage.

Maldives is going through a time that it has never been through before, even during the time of natural and man-made disasters such as tsunami and 9/11. Predictions are that there might even be some unsold hotel beds through Christmas and New year in the Maldives. For an experienced traveller this might be an opportunity to get an extreme value for money and for those who want to visit the Maldives for the first time, this is the TIME!

Try some of these large hotel and travel groups

Universal Resorts
Villa Hotels
Sun Hotels
AAA Hotels
J Resorts
Crown Tours
Inner Maldives
Intour Maldives
Lets Go Maldives
100 percent Maldives

© 2009, Editor. All rights reserved.

Maldives has been nominated for the New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign. This campaign is a process in which seven natural wonders of the world are chosen by people through a global poll which will be declared in the year 2011.

The campaign is being organized by the Swiss based New7Wonders Foundation after their success in organizing the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

For the Finalist stage, the 28 New7Wonders of Nature Finalists have been put to popular vote in July 2009. Voting will continue throughout 2010 and into 2011. During this time, the New7Wonders World Tour will visit each of the Finalists to allow them to present themselves to the voters across the globe.

The New 7 Wonders campaign aims to promote cultural diversity by supporting, preserving and restoring monuments and natural sites. It relies on private donations and revenue from selling broadcasting rights.

Please vote for Maldives by visiting www.new7wonders.com and make its beauty known to the world as one of the natural wonders of the world.

The Maldives guide team would like to call all Maldivians, fans and well wishers of Maldives to join our effort to make Maldives as one of the Natural Wonders of the World.

You can also join the facebook group and follow on twitter.

© 2009, admin. All rights reserved.

British Airways is to launch its new thrice-weekly direct flights from Gatwick to Male, Maldives from October 25, 2009.
The new service will be the first time ever British Airways has offered flights to the Maldives. As of now, the new flights to Male will depart on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Holidays in The Maldives will introduce British Airways customers to a fantastic selection of tiny palm fringed coral islands each with its own exclusive resort hotel. Each of these international standard hotels in the Maldives is four or five stars in quality offering a great range of activities such as diving, snorkelling, sailing and fishing, or you can simply laze your days away sunbathing on a stunning white, sandy beach.

The routes will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft with a three-class configuration: World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club WorldBritish Airways is to launch its new thrice-weekly direct flights from Gatwick to Male, Maldives from October 25, 2009.The new service will be the first time ever British Airways has offered flights to the Maldives. As of now, the new flights to Male will depart on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Holidays in The Maldives will introduce British Airways customers to a fantastic selection of tiny palm fringed coral islands each with its own exclusive resort hotel.

Each of these international standard hotels in the Maldives is four or five stars in quality offering a great range of activities such as diving, snorkelling, sailing and fishing, or you can simply laze your days away sunbathing on a stunning white, sandy beach.

The routes will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft with a three-class configuration: World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World.

Source: pr-canada.net

© 2009, admin. All rights reserved.

When Maldives Minister of State for Fisheries and Agriculture stood up to speak at the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission steering committee meeting in Mombasa, he talked extensively about the shark and how the tiny archipelago is changing its fortunes from the sea creature.

But to the surprise of many, especially the Kenyan delegation, the minister, Dr Hussein Rasheed Hassan, explained that his country was in the process of banning fishing of sharks from its waters, making it the first nation in the region to make such a move.

The majority of states in the region do not attach such value to the sharks.

But in Maldives, where the number of sharks has plummeted in recent years due to their killing by fishermen targeting them for their lucrative fins, the predator are a key feature of the tourism sector.

In 1998, a 10-year moratorium banning shark fishing was imposed to cover the seven atolls where tourism had been established on the assumption that many tourists visited the Maldives to see sharks.

However, with the spread of tourism to almost all islands in the country, the ministry decided to expand the ban to encompass all reef sharks fishing across the Maldives within a 12 nautical mile radius (22km).

Dr Hassan said the Maldives government has now given a one year notice of a total ban on reef shark fishing by March 2010.

“We have realised that it is more economically viable to leave the shark and other sea creatures unharmed because the country currently earns about $7 million annually from the diving industry,” Hassan said.

The reason for the ban, he said, was to increase the stocks and add value to diving tourism and attract more tourists who visit the islands for their beautiful underground coral gardens.

“The marine ecosystem is very fragile and that is why we have to regulate activities that coupled with the treats of climate change could adversely affect the major sources of income for the country,” he said.

With most of its 1,000 scattered islands without electricity, Maldives has in the past few years become a favoured tourist destination for honeymooners as well.

Dr Hassan said that, today, the country receives tourists twice its 350, 000 population every year.

In Maldives, sharks have a particularly valuable role in the tourism industry, which generates some 30 per cent of the country’s GDP.

According to surveys, about 30 per cent of tourists visit the Maldives for its underwater marine with life, viewing sharks and manta rays as their top priorities.

Source: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news

© 2009, admin. All rights reserved.

Maldives Resorts

This is the first time the Maldives Tourism Board would like to invite tour operators, travel agents, airlines and members of the media from Scandinavia to join the Road show for a travel trade, presentation and seminar.

Welcome light snacks and drinks will be available and fabulous prize give-a ways for free holidays in Maldives. There will be a five star line up of Co- participants for example Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Angsana Hotels & Resorts and Island Pearl Hotels.

The Seminar offers you an opportunity to discover the possibilities of Maldives and get first hand information about this true paradise. At the same time you have an opportunity to meet hoteliers and tour operators from the Maldives who will present the attractions of this luxury destination as well as their products and services.

Indivo Global Consultancy – a leading Scandinavian marketing company who have been representing destinations and resorts through out the world, will be organizing this world class event. Indivo Global Consultancy have specialised in promoting and positioning foreign resorts into Scandinavia since 1997.

The Maldives road show takes off in Stockholm Sunday the 20th of September 2009 in Quality hotel Globen and on Tuesday 22th September 2009 in Oslo, Radisson SAS BLU Hotel. Last show will be held in Copenhagen on Thursday 24th September 2009 in Radisson SAS Scandinavia.

© 2009, admin. All rights reserved.

Marriage tourism In the Maldvies

If you’re experiencing marital strife, the thought of sharing your two-week holiday in the Maldives with a marriage guidance counsellor may not be conducive to patching things up.

But if one Indian travel firm’s idea to use holidays to pull couples back from the brink of divorce catches on, the concept could be heading for Britain.

Mumbai-based KV Tours and Travels is offering ‘divorce tourism’ packages where couples are accompanied by a relationship counsellor to encourage them to give things another go.

Despite the fact that India has one of the world’s lowest divorce rates with one in 100 married couples breaking up, it is apparently on the rise.

KV Tours and Travels chief executive Vijesh Thakker, who was inspired by the break-up of a friend’s marriage, said: ‘With divorce tourism, what we’re trying to do is to bring together couples who are heading towards divorce to stop them.

Read More

© 2009, admin. All rights reserved.

Sheraton Maldives

The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has opened 40 Island Cottages.

“We believe the new category will provide our guests more options and of course a very warm and welcoming atmosphere,” said Brian Segrave, General Manager of Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa. “At Sheraton Maldives, our guests will find a truly home away from home accommodation whilst they are enjoying their once in a life time experience in the Maldives.”

The 40 Island Cottages at Sheraton Maldives are ideal for those wanting extra space and privacy.

Each stand-alone thatched cottage, features the comfortable Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed, an open-air tropical bathroom, vaulted ceilings for an even greater sense of space, a daybed for lounging as well as a private balcony with spectacular garden view.

The new Island Cottages are in addition to the 55 Beach-Front Cottages the hotel was already selling to travellers.

Browse some Pictures of Sharaton Maldives

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© 2009, admin. All rights reserved.

Alila Villas Hadahaa

Surrounded by turquoise waters and fine white beaches, Alila Villas Hadahaa offers the ultimate Maldivian experience. Guests at this all-villa resort can choose from one of 14 stilted, over-water Aqua Villas or 36 Island Villas. All living spaces feature vast sliding windows that afford stunning ocean views.

In-resort facilities include two swimming pools, a fully-equipped gym, a Maldivian speciality restaurant offering a sampling of local and regional cuisine and a main restaurant, a library and a star-gazing deck. Alila Villas Hadahaa is the first property in the Maldives to achieve the prestigious Green Globe “Building, Planning and Design” benchmark and was designed to best adapt to the tropical climate and natural environment of the island. This includes rainwater harvesting, waste treatment, high roofed areas and open ceilings. To confirm their local social responsibility, the resort has just launched a “Gift-to-Share” programme. Guests can also participate by donating to support any of the three community programmes that the resort has initiated. This includes building up a reference and research library in the local schools; re-introducing Maldivian traditional crafts into primary schools; and introducing community farming projects.

alila villa hadahaa design maldives

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Alila Villas is one the newest and hotels bringing about the new hotel design trends in the Maldives.

Alila Villas Hadahaa is set on a tropical island in the North Huvadhoo Atoll, about 400 km to the south from Male international airport.

The islands here feature diverse landscapes covered by lush vegetation such as palm, coconut and banyan trees and tropical flowers, and fringed by pristine sandy beaches. The diving is unbeatable with long stretches of unspoilt coral reefs and a huge abundance of marine life unequalled by other visited locations in the Maldives. From lazing on an empty beach to breathtaking ocean adventures, Alila Villas Hadahaa will offer the absolute best experiences of the Maldives.

Alila Villas Hadahaa
H.Asfaam, Bodufungadu Magu, Male’
Republic of Maldives
P : +960 682 8888
F : +960 682 7777
E: hadahaa@alilahotels.com

Read more at Travel Daily News

© 2009, admin. All rights reserved.

Maldives is to be showcased at Monarch Beach which is held being between mid-June and mid-September this year.

Maldives Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) together with the High Commission of Maldives in UK has celebrated a Maldivian day on 15 August 2009. The week commencing from 14 August was marked as the Indian Ocean week at the Monarch Beach bringing the colors of the beach destinations like Maldives, Goa, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

The High Commission of Maldives in UK jointly with members of the Maldives Students’ Association in UK (MSA) and Maldivian families and volunteers living in UK portrayed the island lifestyle of the Maldives and provided information about the destination at the beach.
The Monarch Beach is the only city centre beach in the UK located at the
Chamberlain Square; and covers 577 square metres and makes use of over 110 tonnes of sand. Free and opened daily to the Birmingham public and tourist visitors, this popular city centre beach is opened on Sunday to Thursday from 11am till 6pm and on Fridays and Saturday from 11am till 9pm which is thought to be a great family friendly attraction, and also provide an idyllic urban oasis for city centre workers and visitors to relax.

The United Kingdom is one of the largest travel markets in the world and is one of the top markets to the Maldives in terms of visitor attracted. At the end of June 2009 UK attracted 51,069 visitors to the Maldives while Maldives received 116,821 visitors at the end of 2008.

Source: miadhu.com.mv

© 2009, admin. All rights reserved.